CHAPTER VI 



TRAWL FISHERIES 



UNLIKE the drift net, which only catches fish of one 

 species and of fairly uniform size when they are swimming 

 near the surface, the trawl net scoops up practically 

 all the inhabitants of the sea bottom, including round 

 fish, e.g. cod and haddock ; flat fish, e.g. sole and 

 plaice, as well as various invertebrates (jelly fish), and 

 marine plants and stones. The trawl is essentially 

 a flattened, conical net that is dragged open-mouthed 

 along the sea bottom. The two kinds of trawl in 

 common use the beam trawl and the otter trawl 

 differ in the method that is adopted for keeping open 

 the mouth of the net. The beam trawl is used by 

 sailing vessels, the otter trawl by steamers. 



Sailing trawlers are divided into two classes : first 

 class smacks and second class cutters. The smack is a 

 two masted vessel with fore and aft rig, generally 

 making a five or six day voyage, and trawling in depths of 

 up to 40 fathoms. The cutter makes shorter voyages 

 20 hours and generally keeps within territorial 

 waters. 



To work a beam trawl successfully, it is necessary to 

 know the character of the sea bottom, whether rough 

 or smooth, and also the time and direction of the tide. 

 The net is trawled with the tide a little faster than it is 

 running, so that sufficient resistance is encountered to 

 keep the net extended. In shooting the trawl, great 

 care must be taken to make it alight on its runners in 

 the correct position for trawling. If the net be twisted, 

 or if it alight upside down, it has been shot " foul," 



77 



